Experimental Signature of Microheterogeneity in Ionic Liquid-H₂O Systems and Their Perturbation by Adding Li⁺ Salts: A Pulsed Gradient Spin-Echo NMR Approach

Distinct microheterogeneity has been observed in the [OMIM]Br-H₂O system, which is interestingly perturbed by the addition of Li⁺ salts, indicating unusual diffusivity of [OMIM]Br and H₂O molecules. However, the diffusional dynamics of water clusters show contrasting salting behavior at higher concentrations of Li⁺ salts, following the classical salting phenomenon in lower amounts. In contrast, the existing microheterogeneity in the [BMIM]Br-H₂O system is weak enough to show any perturbation caused by the Li⁺ salts on the NMR time scale.